Moose Capture Six of Eight Points on the Road

March 24, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Last week, the Moose did not lose in regulation during their four-game road trip. They went 2-0-0-2 and finished with six out of a possible eight points. Manitoba defeated Milwaukee 2-0 on Wednesday, lost 4-3 in overtime to Grand Rapids on Thursday, lost 3-2 in overtime to Chicago on Saturday and beat the Admirals 3-1 on Sunday. This week, Manitoba completes their home regular season schedule with a weekend match-up against the Providence Bruins. The Moose remain in second spot in the Canadian Division with 80 points and are battling for a high playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Last week:

Wednesday, Mar. 19 - Manitoba 2 vs. Milwaukee 0: In the first, Herbert Vasiljevs potted his tenth of the season. Ryan Ready and Rene Vydareny assisted on the play. After one, Manitoba led 1-0. In the middle frame, the Moose continued to apply the pressure and were rewarded with a goal from Chris Nielsen. This was his seventh this season and third as a Moose. Ready and Vasiljevs added their second points of the night. After two, Manitoba led 2-0. In the third, the home side dominated the action and outshot their opponents 12-3 but could not put one behind first star Moose netminder Tyler Moss. Moss earned his third shutout this season in the 2-0 road victory.

Thursday, Mar. 20 - Manitoba 3 vs. Grand Rapids 4 (OT): The visitors opened the scoring when Moose leading scorer Ryan Ready scored his 22nd. The home side tied the score before the Moose responded with a power play marker from Pat Kavanagh. This was his 14th of the season. After one, 2-1 for Manitoba. In the middle frame, sophomore Justin Morrison tallied his tenth of the season to tie his goal total from his rookie campaign. The hosts received the first of two goals from Stacy Roest to end the period. Manitoba led 3-2 heading into the third. The Griffins notched the tying goal from Bryan Adams. In the overtime frame, Roest fired his second of the night to end the Moose streak of not losing in overtime this season. Grand Rapids won 4-3 in overtime but the Moose gained a valuable point in their quest for a high playoff spot.

Saturday, Mar. 22 - Manitoba 2 vs. Chicago 3 (OT): In the second, the hosts opened the scoring when Steve Maltais fired his 400th goal in a Wolves uniform. This broke Tyler Moss scoreless streak at 113:28 over his last three games. After two, Wolves 1-0. In the third, the home side scored again before Manitoba erupted for two goals. Bryan Helmer fired his seventh of the season on the power play. Rookie Nathan Smith notched the tying goal when he scored his seventh of the campaign. After regulation time, 2-2. In the overtime, Manitoba fell victim in the second consecutive game of allowing the opposition to score the game-winner and lost 3-2 in overtime.

Sunday, Mar. 23 - Manitoba 3 vs. Milwaukee 1: The Moose earned another road victory with a 3-1 win at Milwaukee and stayed in sixth spot in the Eastern Conference while clinching a playoff spot. The visitors opened the scoring when defenceman Jaroslav Obsut blasted his fifth of the season. After one, Moose 1-0. There was no scoring in the second. In the third, the hosts finally scored a goal but Manitoba responded only a minute later with the eventual game-winner. John Craighead notched his fourth from Tyler Bouck and Smith. Zenith Komarniski potted an empty-netter to salt away the 3-1 win. Tyler Moss made a season team-high 43 saves for first star as Craighead had the "Gordie Howe" hat trick for second star honours.

Up Next:Manitoba (35-30-8-2) vs. Providence (42-18-10-4)- Fri., Mar. 28 -7:30 p.m.& Sun., Mar. 30-2 p.m.

T.V.: none Radio: CJOB - 7:05 p.m. on Fri. and 1:35 p.m.

Bruins Watch: Providence was 1-1-2 last week. They beat Bridgeport 3-2 on Sun., tied Manchester 3-3 on Sat. , lost to them 3-0 on Fri. and tied Worcester 2-2 on Wed. The P-Bruins sit atop the North Division with 98 points and have the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They have a 16-11-6-3 road record. The season series is tied at one (Moose 4-2L on Feb. 9, 5-1W on Mar. 7). The team is led by Matt Herr (31g, 38a) with 69 points, good for an eighth place tie in the AHL. Lee Goren leads the league in power play goals with 17. Andy Hilbert (33g, 32a), Keith Aucoin (22g, 43a) and Goren (30g, 35a) are tied for 15th in AHL scoring with 65 points. Herr leads the league with 11 game-winning goals. Martin Samuelsson is third with a shooting pct. of 20.6% (22g/107s) and second among AHL rookies with 11 PPG. Goalie Tim Thomas leads the team among active goalies with a 2.87 Avg. and has 18 wins. The P-Bruins have the eighth best PP at 17.7% (84g/475a). They have the league's third best goals for per game at 3.35 (74gp/248g). Providence holds the league's seventh most shots for per game at 31.80 (74gp/2353s).

Moose Notes:

- Manitoba took six of a possible eight points (2-0-0-2) during the recent road trip. Since Feb. 19, the Moose have captured 26 out of 34 points (11-2-2-2) to stay ahead for the race for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. They clinched a playoff spot on Mar. 23.

- Moose goalie Tyler Moss has now started ten of the last 11 Moose games and has only lost once in regulation during the span (7-2-1). He earned first star honours on Mar. 19 (29 save shutout) and Mar. 23 (season team-high 43 save). Moss had a scoreless streak of 113:28 (the sixth longest in franchise history). His record is now 19-13-5 and his win total ties him for the sixth most in franchise history for a season (Jason Elliott, 1999-00).

- For the first time in their AHL history, the Moose suffered back-to-back overtime losses. They became the last AHL team to lose in overtime this season on Thursday when they lost 4-3 in Grand Rapids and then followed up with another defeat in the extra five-minute frame on Saturday in Chicago. The third period rally did produce their fifth point this season when trailing after two periods.

- Forward Herbert Vasiljevs notched an assist on Saturday to move into second place in Moose scoring among active players with 36 points (10g, 26a). He has registered eight multi-point games this season. Vasiljevs played in his 300th AHL game on Sat. against Chicago and has now accumulated 99 goals, 136 assists for 235 points during his five years in the league.

- Moose leading goal scorer Ryan Ready added two assists on Wed. to surpass the 100 point barrier as a Moose and earn third star. In his two-year Moose career, Ready has notched 45 goals, 57 assists for 102 points in 135 games for the Moose. He is now only seven points behind Scott Thomas (1997-98, 2000-01) for 11th spot in franchise scoring.

- Forward Justin Morrison has almost matched his rookie totals in half as many AHL games played this season. In his sophomore season, Morrison started with Columbia in the ECHL before being recalled on Jan. 24. Since then, he has notched ten goals (ties last season's mark) and five assists (four shy of his pro career high) in 26 AHL matches.

- Rugged forward John Craighead had the "Gordie Howe" hat trick (goal, assist and a fight in one game) on Mar. 23 versus Milwaukee. He earned second star honours and now has four goals and nine assists.

- Rookie Nathan Smith had two assists on Mar. 23 and a goal on Mar. 22 to improve his season totals to seven goals, eight assists for 15 points in 48 AHL matches.

- Pat Kavanagh notched a PPG and an assist on Thur. at Grand Rapids. He was selected second star and this was his fourth game in four consecutive days. He played the first two in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and the last two with Manitoba. During the four games, Kavanagh registered his first-ever NHL goal and had six shots in the 2-0 win over Milwaukee on Wed. He has 27 points (14g, 13a) in 58 AHL contests.

- Defenceman Jaroslav Obsut played in his 200th AHL game on Mar. 20. He added his fifth marker of the season on Mar. 23. This is second highest goal total for a season during his AHL career.

- John Craighead leads with 105 PIM.

- Brian Chapman leads the team among active Moose with a +12 rating.

- The team's penalty kill ranks 21st with 81.6% (68g/370a).

- Manitoba ranks 13th in power play with 16.7% (70g/418a).

Moose in Van.!: Moose leading scorer Brandon Reid notched his first two NHL goals and added an assist for first star honours against Nashville on Mar. 20 Reid now has four points in his first three NHL games. Forward Jason King added his first-ever NHL point with an assist on Mar. 18 against St. Louis. He has one point in four NHL contests. Goalie Alex Auld notched his first-ever NHL shutout with a 14 save performance versus Washington on Mar. 23. Defenceman Nolan Baumgartner has not played since his recent recall.



American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central